OOIIO Architecture: In what can now be considered a residential neighbourhood of Madrid, an old warehouse for plumbing and construction materials, which had been unused for years, has been transformed into a lively and colourful residential space. The project, named "Warehouse Apartments" marks the rebirth of this iconic building, reflecting the change and evolution of the urban environment surrounding it.
A few years ago, this warehouse was part of a semi-industrial area next to a major highway, where small factories, workshops, and warehouses coexisted with the workers from these companies and many others. However, the city decided to transform the highway into a green corridor, covering the asphalt with trees, parks, and expansive green areas. This change turned the working-class neighbourhood into an attractive place where new families wanted to settle. Over time, the factories and workshops moved elsewhere, leaving behind large vacant spaces like this warehouse, which became completely dislocated.
In response to the growing demand for housing in this revitalised neighbourhood by the Manzanares River in Madrid, the opportunity arose to reinvent this warehouse and transform it into a complex of modern apartments. The Madrid-based architecture firm responsible for the project has converted a grey industrial space into 8 apartments, each approximately 40 square metres, with a dedicated storage room for each apartment located in the building's basement. The current residents are primarily young individuals, both couples and singles.
However, this was not just a physical transformation; it was also a renewal of identity. Vibrant colours replaced the industrial grey, introducing a palette of yellows, blues, greens, and oranges, while still respecting the site’s history. The original warehouse pipes and structures, instead of being removed, were carefully integrated into the design and painted yellow, serving as a reminder to residents that this once-functional and grey space has a story to tell.
The new apartments offer a unique and modern housing option, respecting the essence of the original warehouse while featuring an updated design that prioritises natural light, comfort, and efficient use of space. The new homes, equipped with everything necessary for contemporary living, have been built with wood, reddish brick, and glazed ceramics to make them inviting and modern. From their windows, residents enjoy views of the trees and parks surrounding the neighbourhood, a luxury that seemed unimaginable just a few years ago.
About studio / author
OOIIO Architecture was founded in 2010, during a socioeconomic context marked by constant crisis. Since then, the studio has faced challenges such as the financial crisis, the pandemic, shortages of raw materials, climate change, and geopolitical tensions. Throughout these years, the only predictable factor has been uncertainty and the lack of security for a stable future.
OOIIO has embraced this state of perpetual change with optimism. The studio does not seek to control or reverse it, nor does it surrender to it. For OOIIO, accepting the crisis does not mean creating austere or puritanical architecture; rather, it means intelligently and maturely adapting to new conditions: smaller projects, limited budgets, and clients with a moderate interest in architecture.
OOIIO has learned to practice architecture in times of crisis, and from seemingly modest commissions, the studio elevates its work beyond expectations by leveraging its knowledge of various architectural techniques. With humility and adaptability, OOIIO reclaims the architect's role as a leader in the construction process, seizing every opportunity, no matter how small, to create architecture.
This attitude, key to OOIIO's success, has allowed it to emerge, survive, and thrive in a challenging environment for architectural practice. In each project, the studio explores, experiments, and opens new paths. Architecture does not have a single place or form; it exists wherever there is an opportunity. OOIIO's mission is to remain attentive to every stimulus that can enrich each work and project.
Joaquín Millán Villamuelas, architect from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (ETSAM), began his professional career at some of the most prestigious architecture firms in the contemporary international scene, including those of Norman Foster in London and Rem Koolhaas in Rotterdam. In 2010, he founded OOIIO Architecture, conceived as a laboratory for Architecture and the City, focused on creating spaces of quality and uniqueness in every project.
Joaquín leads the work at OOIIO with an emotion-centred approach. His vision is to guide clients on a journey through their dreams, arriving at surprising and original solutions, always supported by the power of imagination and a precise mastery of aesthetics. His main tools are light, form, and the expressive capabilities of materials and their colours.
OOIIO, which stands out for its practical approach to project execution, has successfully maintained a solid production over the years with proposals that are both realistic and innovative. The concepts defining OOIIO's philosophy are reflected in tangible work that has been successfully executed and recognized internationally. His work has been exhibited, awarded, and published in numerous specialised magazines, books, and blogs.
Joaquín has also shared his experience at various exhibitions, conferences, and seminars, participating in events in cities such as Arequipa, Barcelona, Cuenca (Ecuador), Kyiv, Guadalajara, Madrid, Milan, Pavia, Sarajevo, Toledo, Valencia, Warsaw, and Vitoria, among others.
